Race Car Tech Discuss anything related to road racing and auto X.

What display do you recommend?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-16-06, 12:04 AM
  #1  
Custom or Nothing

Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
oorx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lombard, IL
Posts: 1,779
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What display do you recommend?

AiM MXL Strada

http://www.aimsports.com/products/mxl-strada/index.html

Stack ST800 Dash Display

http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/stack3.htm

I am putting together a track only FD. The donor car is a salvaged FD from a light cabin fire, also had a slight fire in the engine bay. I think all the gauges and wiring are shot. Most of the fire was on the seats and under the dash. I am planning stripping out all the wiring and running a painless wiring system. http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku . Along with either a haltech or microtech ECU. I did notice that Microtech has a dash display that they offer also, http://www.microtech-efi.com/product/2.html . Not sure if that display would be enough though.

I will need to buy all new gauges and possibly sensors any way. This is the reason for looking into dash displays. If any one has any other ideas that would be great.

I am tring to set up a budget and this is one of those things that could be between $1000 or $2000 depending on wich one I go with. I am kinda leaning toward the AiM MXL Strada. But would like to hear others opinions.

One other thing how important is a fuel level gauge , if I am not planning on doing any endurance racing. Mostly track days, and possibly time attack.
Old 11-16-06, 07:32 AM
  #2  
Not the company

 
RE-Amemiya's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 5,040
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Well, you can certainly see the data easier cause it's bigger. Don't know how helpful the shift lights actually are if you've gotten used to the sound and when to shift.

Personally i like the Stack display.
Old 11-16-06, 12:53 PM
  #3  
Senior Member

 
sereneseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: mooresville
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the aim dash is very nice 50% of the grand am cup field runs them. I would highly reccomend you talk with www.apexspeedtech.com they do a ton of data engineering for everything from grand-am DP's superbikes and ALMS. they are also dealers for motec, pectal, efi , aem,Pi.... so they can go over all of the positives and negatives of each system and they are really good guys.
Old 11-16-06, 01:26 PM
  #4  
Custom or Nothing

Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
oorx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lombard, IL
Posts: 1,779
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rx7twinturboboy
Well, you can certainly see the data easier cause it's bigger. Don't know how helpful the shift lights actually are if you've gotten used to the sound and when to shift.

Personally i like the Stack display.
I do like the simplicity of the stack display. Also the fact that it states, it come with the sensors.
Old 11-16-06, 01:28 PM
  #5  
Custom or Nothing

Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
oorx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lombard, IL
Posts: 1,779
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by sereneseven
the aim dash is very nice 50% of the grand am cup field runs them. I would highly reccomend you talk with www.apexspeedtech.com they do a ton of data engineering for everything from grand-am DP's superbikes and ALMS. they are also dealers for motec, pectal, efi , aem,Pi.... so they can go over all of the positives and negatives of each system and they are really good guys.
That company looks like a great place to start. Thank you very much, I will be giving them a call. Anyone inperticular I should talk to?
Old 11-16-06, 01:41 PM
  #6  
Senior Member

 
sereneseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: mooresville
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
neal vessada (spl?) is the guy if you have any ?s about anything data related he's the man just to let you know he is very very busy so don't be suprised if he cuts strait to the poop.
Old 11-16-06, 02:34 PM
  #7  
www.lms-efi.com

iTrader: (27)
 
C. Ludwig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Floyds Knobs. IN
Posts: 5,235
Received 128 Likes on 84 Posts
If you have a standalone or ever think you might go with Haltech then choose the Aim. The E8 and E11 can now be interfaced with the Aim products similar to the Motec setup. Check out Haltech's website for information.
Old 11-20-06, 12:52 PM
  #8  
Senior Member

iTrader: (2)
 
TechTrix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
AIM... less expensive, good unit, and comes with a lap timer at no extra cost. We use the aim pro in our porsche race cars.
Old 11-28-06, 07:51 AM
  #9  
Custom or Nothing

Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
oorx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lombard, IL
Posts: 1,779
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks guys, I am going with the AIM. Now I just need to figure out what drivetrain I am going to use.
Old 11-29-06, 02:46 PM
  #10  
Rotary Freak

iTrader: (10)
 
gnx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,085
Received 19 Likes on 9 Posts
ahem.... see sig for at least one driveline option
Old 11-29-06, 04:00 PM
  #11  
Senior Member

 
TrentO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have a boatload of autometer guages in my Microtech equipped track car and if I were to do it over again I'd likely just use the Microtech dash unit. As mentioned above, when racing you don't spend a lot of time checking the gauges, so you really only need a few idiot lights to keep you out of trouble. Anything else is pretty much overkill. During a typical session I might check the temp guages on the long straight. I might look at the tach if I'm going to try and leg a section out and not shift, but most of the time I'm working by ear. If I had a temperature idiot light for water and oil I'd probably be just fine without those two gauges. The Microtech dash seems like a good option at $500 or so, as it shows you what you need to know and doesn't require you run a whole additional set of sensors like I had to for my autometer gauges. Additionally, you can use the dash unit for ad-hoc programming here and there. Seems like a good win for the money.

My $0.02
-Trent
Old 02-14-10, 11:26 PM
  #12  
Full Member
 
Jamehij's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Auckland, New Zealand.
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry bout the bump to end all bumps, but I am about to buy a AiM MXL Pista for my Street Driven sometimes track FC. I really want to know if you can run this with conjunction with the Microtech LT10s ECU? On the website it specifies other ECUs but not mine.

Please help.

Cheers,

-Hij.
Old 02-15-10, 12:30 PM
  #13  
GET OFF MY LAWN

iTrader: (1)
 
jgrewe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Fla.
Posts: 2,837
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
My software only lists the M172 in the Microtech drop down. I don't know anything about the Microtech's so that is all I can help with.
Old 02-16-10, 03:01 PM
  #14  
Has been.. hangin' around

 
Silkworm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Milpitas, CA
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
wow holy old thread batman
Old 02-16-10, 04:52 PM
  #15  
Senior Member

 
gkmccready's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFBay
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Jamehij
Sorry bout the bump to end all bumps, but I am about to buy a AiM MXL Pista for my Street Driven sometimes track FC. I really want to know if you can run this with conjunction with the Microtech LT10s ECU? On the website it specifies other ECUs but not mine.
I don't think so. The AiM supports some Microtec (no `h') ECU but not the Microtech. I can say the AiM works great with the OBDII port on my Corvette. We put an AEM ECU in my RX7 with hopes of connecting the AiM to it but further research shows it to be a royal PITA because the AEM uses the same serial port for both the laptop and the display. :-(
Old 02-17-10, 10:24 AM
  #16  
Sua Sponte

iTrader: (31)
 
Brent Dalton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Germany
Posts: 3,124
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Originally Posted by gkmccready
I don't think so. The AiM supports some Microtec (no `h') ECU but not the Microtech. I can say the AiM works great with the OBDII port on my Corvette. We put an AEM ECU in my RX7 with hopes of connecting the AiM to it but further research shows it to be a royal PITA because the AEM uses the same serial port for both the laptop and the display. :-(
Curious about the Vette comment. Does your Aim dash plug into your OBD II port and read all of your sensor data from the stock computer? I hope the answer is no... only because I just finished my race car dash with traditional gauges Thanks.

Brent
Old 02-17-10, 11:55 AM
  #17  
Senior Member

 
gkmccready's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFBay
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by memphisraines82
Curious about the Vette comment. Does your Aim dash plug into your OBD II port and read all of your sensor data from the stock computer? I hope the answer is no... only because I just finished my race car dash with traditional gauges
Sorry, the answer is Yes. '06+ LS2/LS3/LS7 cars at a minimum. It pulls all the data off the CAN bus. Really damn cool. I haven't added a sensor other than the GPS to the C6. We mounted the dash in a way that it'll move between the C6 for fun days, and the RX7 for race days.
Old 02-17-10, 01:41 PM
  #18  
Sua Sponte

iTrader: (31)
 
Brent Dalton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Germany
Posts: 3,124
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
That's good information to know. I'm going to see if I can't give them a call and see if it would be possible for the Camaro SS/Trans Am/ C5Z's. I have an LS1/T56 in my FD with a 99-02 camaro/trans am LS1 harness. I'm limited as far as my monitoring as the LS1 camaro/trans am didn't have all the sensors the others had. Still, it would be very cool if I could just plug it in to the port. I was considering picking one up, but $250 per sensor was a deal breaker for me before. Had I known this, I'm fairly sure I would of went this route. More research to do...

thanks again for the information.

Brent
Old 02-17-10, 02:02 PM
  #19  
Senior Member

 
gkmccready's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFBay
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by memphisraines82
That's good information to know. I'm going to see if I can't give them a call and see if it would be possible for the Camaro SS/Trans Am/ C5Z's. I have an LS1/T56 in my FD with a 99-02 camaro/trans am LS1 harness. I'm limited as far as my monitoring as the LS1 camaro/trans am didn't have all the sensors the others had. Still, it would be very cool if I could just plug it in to the port. I was considering picking one up, but $250 per sensor was a deal breaker for me before. Had I known this, I'm fairly sure I would of went this route. More research to do...
With the AiM you can program any sensor, it doesn't have to be the AiM sensors at all. So you can buy whatever cheap one you like and just map voltage to range and be done with it. It's not like the Racepak that makes you use their sensors on their funky bus.

I don't think the pre-'06 cars will get what you want. Not because the data isn't there but because the CAN bus is the slower version and can't move the data fast enough. I think '06+ got the better serial bus... but I could be wrong. It's worth checking. If AiM made the f-body and C5 computer work they'd sell a lot more boxes.
Old 02-17-10, 10:28 PM
  #20  
Full Member
 
Jamehij's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Auckland, New Zealand.
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yea I have a MicroTecH LT10S, guts that it doesn't pull data frrom that
Old 02-27-10, 03:03 AM
  #21  
10TH ANN

iTrader: (1)
 
MORISAKI's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: GARDENA, CA.
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lets see pictures of people that got this set up on their 2nd gens.....
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Turblown
Vendor Classifieds
12
10-17-20 03:25 PM
rotor_veux
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
3
09-28-15 09:25 PM



Quick Reply: What display do you recommend?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:11 PM.